Filling the Craftsman void?

[Conductor562]

Disclaimer: This thread is not intended to be a Craftsman bashing thread. It is a legitimate question of honest curiosity. If you wish to discuss the ridiculous decline in Craftsman quality, nominate Sear's as the Anti-Christ, blame labor unions for all of America's problems, or curse the ****** lobster claw wrench design, please utilize one of the 4,256 existing such threads to do so.

It's no secret the Craftsman outsourcing left a void in the tool market as we knew it. As the last truly affordable, American made , full line of tools, many DIY/Non-Professional types found themselves with a decision to make. Some undoubtedly cared enough about COO to upgrade to a professional brand for future purchases, some felt it ridiculous to pay the same prices for China sourced tools that were previously paying for USA made tools and migrated to a better quality, comparably priced Asian brand, and some decided to keep by Craftsman for whatever reason.

Please answer my poll question. I am genuinely curious what direction the GJ community has went.

 

[rice rocket]

Sadly, the GJ community represents a small fraction of Craftsman's market, and the "void" as we perceive it, is rather small. From what I've seen, their products still carry the same or similar "good enough" brand reputation despite the move outside of our circles, and with the extra margin, can back their lifetime warranty on hand tools even easier.

If I had to guess, it'd be Lowe's/HD eating into Sears's territory, as Sears have been amidst a pretty serious downturn as of late while Lowe's and HD continue to grow. They're in the same retail distribution model, unlike the other brands listed. HF too I guess, but they price themselves so low that not many take them seriously (warranted or not).

 

[mech-tech]

For me, it's lowes. They are not only closer to home, but also everyone there is happy to help and more than willing to tell me if a product has problems or if it holds up well. Most of the guys that work at the lowes I frequent are trade guys that are in retirement, so they usually know EXACTLY what works and what don't. For me, the kobalt stuff is only competitive to craftsman on price when it is on sale. Lowes wants $70 for a 1/2" drive flex head ratchet! I can get proto for cheaper than that through industrial suppliers!

 

[vartz04]

I buy Menards Masterforce stuff when I need it. Most of it is USA made. Its usually on par quality wise to gearWrench stuff.

I have a bunch of USA craftsman stuff and I'll continue to warranty it and let it turn into Chinese stuff. Honestly though my Wrench turning has dropped down a lot and this stuff will last a long time. I have a 3 mile drive to work in a company truck and the wife drives 7 each way. Parts aren't needing replacing like when I used to drive my own truck 60k a year.

 

[softailgarage]

Being in the Automotive repair industry I have access to all of the tool trucks, which I use frequently, however I still intend to buy Craftsman... used Craftsman. 1950's - 1970's Craftsman. Cant beat it & cant kill it.

 

[Doug B]

I haven't thought too hard about this yet,so here are my random thoughts. I am not a professional mechanic.I fix my own stuff mostly,but that is slowing down some(sent the wifes car out for ball joints last time).90% of my tools are Craftsman USA. I have a few Snap-ons and Blue Point. I don't think I will warranty any C-mans for offshore.I have never broken a C-man end wrench....mostly screwdrivers,a few sockets,2 ratchets.I plan on picking up more C-man USA when I see them (remaining store stock,flea market,e-bay etc). I think the C-man tools I have will last as long as I will. I voted 'Other store brand' in the poll.

 

[cburnscrx]

I think there needs to be a NOS Craftsman/used Craftsman cartagory.

Within the last 6mo I've bought plenty of USA Craftsman. I won't buy non USA Craftsman as it doesn't make sense to me. At that point I'll go with used, Kobalt, Husky, or Pittsburgh Pro and either save money or get a better product.

My recent purchases are the 299 pc. ultimate socket set, another set of RP (sae and mm), finished completing my full set of original RP, the Pro full polish combination wrench set (complete), finished off my Pro screwdriver set, the 12 pc. offset wrench set, Pro adjustables wrenches, duckbill pliers, prybar set, snap ring pliers, wood chisels, pipe wrenches, and more I've forgotten. ALL USA made.

I've purchased primarily from Sears but also eBay, Epsteins, and Craigslist.

 

[warweapon762]

Husky fan myself, but I also dip into Kobalt's line when I am near a Lowes.

 

[Bearkat]

I have been buying more store brand stuff (husky/kobalt) out of convenience. Most anything I would buy craftsman, I already have. I have always bough Klein tools for certain things, mainly pliers and screwdrivers, and still shop harbor freight for things like pry bars and huge breaker bars I use once a year. I personally stopped buying a lot of craftsman stuff a few years ago, when they seemed to stop their sales.

 

[Fedwrench]

For me, there really isn't a void to fill. I've amassed most of what I wanted in the craftsman mechanics hand tool line while it was still US made and it's still working for me.

However, looking at my last 6 months of purchases (new, not used), I would say that Proto purchases are up, along with a few SK items, and newly released Gearwrench tools. Tool truck brands are flat, and I don't foresee any problems not buying new Craftsman tools in the future.

In fact, aside from new types/models of tools, I'm probably set.

 

[Trex76us]

Its not that I don't like Craftsman tools, I just don't like going into Sears any more.

 

[Jawn]

For me I chose SK as my go-to brand...

however, I think for the general public, the trend is towards HF or store brands (Kobalt/Husky).

 

[ibedayank]

forgot looking for the best deals on used quaility tools you can find no matter the brand

 

[DTB]

I've been buying more Napa Carlyle tools, I guess that falls in the Kobalt, Husky Category. Or maybe the GearWrench, not sure. I think the biggest part of the reason is that I've got about all that I desire of the Craftsman brand. I'm not going to go out and buy a dozen sets of NOS wrenches, or anything like that. The Craftsman have covered the basics and then branch out from there with more (Or better) offerings from other companies. I'd say its a 50/50 split between Napa tools and new,or used Snap On purchases.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Harbor freight when its something I wont use often, Snap-on for everything else.

 

[biscuit141]

I selected the Gearwrench category becasue after buying the complete Craftsman 1/4" and 3/8" socket trays and returning them due to quality of the sockets and finish (and these were USA made) I purchased the complete Gearwrench 1/4" and 3/8" sets and haven't been disappointed. As many have said, I have pretty much all I need, so I am not buying much anymore. I will also buy Lowes Kobalt when I need something and it's on sale. I do like the new Husky line, so if I need something and they have it on sale I may pick it up there. I do like to have my sets match, so I try to keep most of the same brand of something and I don't use my tools professionally so my chances of breaking anything are slim. I also have a few lesser used items in harbor freight, but I find it difficult to pull the trigger on may of their tools.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I turn wrenches everyday in a commercial, non-automotive atmosphere plus take care of my families every growing fleet of personal vehicles (currently 8). My job is VERY hard on ratchets due to aggressive water. On my new purchases, I have gone to Williams but have recently picked up a few Proto and even a Wright 1/4" drive. I still use my Craftsman RP ratchets as sacrificial lambs and rebuild them with USA repair kits I buy online.

There is still enough good used and NOS Craftsman USA sockets floating around the market to cover me for at least my lifetime.....and they are still the best bang for the buck!

Because I work on such a wide range of items, my toolbox has always been a mixed bag of Craftsman, Ridgid, Channellock, Ideal, Klein, Greenlee etc that a few new brands just give me a reason to buy MORE!

 

[TMCCuda]

I am not a pro, but most of my work is auto and farm related. Most of my new purchases have been Gearwrench-- Advance Auto has the full selection "tool wall" 2 miles away from me. I have a 255pc Craftsman set in the garage from 2004. It's been a great set of USA tools. I try to keep the garage set together and not split it with my "on the road" set. The road tools are mostly used Craftsman V series, some Kobalt, SK, and larger pieces being Gearwrench- again for the farm work.

If they sold SK (or any other mid tier tools) on the wall at Advance, I would probably have some of those. Yes, I would like to have more Snap-On, just can't afford them and availability ***** for me.

 

[Polski-Chevy]

I enjoy buying used tools off my fellow GJ members, and honestly never thought about it until this thread, all new purchases have been industrial brand tools (mostly proto & williams).

Also, I like the thread disclaimer

 

[joe_padavano]

BI still intend to buy Craftsman... used Craftsman. 1950's - 1970's Craftsman. Cant beat it & cant kill it.

X2. I get whatever I need at Spring and Fall Carlisle. Frankly, I'm at the point where I have pretty much all the hand tools I can ever need (yeah, even I'm surprised by that...) and any that I don't have are specialty tools that I get from OTC, KD, Lisle, or Kent Moore (also used).

 

[4xdog]

Harbor freight when its something I wont use often, Snap-on for everything else.

Exactly the same for me. I haven't voted because I wasn't quite sure where this strategy fits on the options list.

The decline in Craftsman began looong before the change in COO from USA to Chna, in my opinion -- starting with power tools in at least the 1970s. I bought most of my Craftsman in the 1970s-1980s and it'll outlast me. I have bought some Craftsman USA in the last year or two -- I'm especially fond of the reversible-ratcheting professional/industrial combination wrenches -- but I will never buy anything Craftsman China.

 

[Farmall450]

I already had most things in US cman, so for what I needed I went SO mostly, with channellocks filling the voids. This poll should allow selection of multiple options.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I do not use my tools to make a living, And I buy a lot of used tools. But in 2013 I purchased a lot of gear wrench and only a few craftsman tools new...Rich...

 

[SMKS]

You're missing my two choices:

-Masterforce at Menards. The hand tools are mostly still made by Apex and still made in the USA. The screwdrivers are made by Pratt-read.

-Blackhawk. The chrome sockets and wrenches are all USA made. The other tools are mostly Taiwanese.

 

[theoldwizard1]

After collecting tools for over 45 years, there is very little I need for my non-professional tool box (except an intermediate box ). The last few items I have purchased are "specialty" tools, that may or may not get used (yes, this is a sickness), and so I purchased them from HF. Long reach needle nose pliers (used the bent ones several time on small engine fuel hose clamps), hose grip pliers (used with the above long bent needle nose pliers; the combination works fantastic !) These are not high stress tools and I rate the quality as "acceptable".

I also bought a pick set and radiator hose removal hook tool from HF.

I could use a set of pin punches.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I am not getting rid of my Craftsman stuff, but anything new I will not buy at Sears.
Most of my stuff is Klein, Channellock, a bit of Snap-on, Crescent, Knipex, etc.

 

[Jim C.]

I'm a big Craftsman fan, and nearly all of my hand tools are USA made Craftsman branded. It's too bad that things have gone the way they have for Craftsman tools. Anyway, going forward, I believe that most of my future hand tool purchases will consist of used, made in the USA, Craftsman stuff. (Sorry I didn't respond to the poll. Used Craftsman tools were not one of the options.) I'll buy online and at garage sales, etc. I'll probably buy some new tools now and then too, but will avoid any and all that were manufactured from most asian origins, as well as india.

Jim C.

 

[Brownsfan]

The majority of my tools are USA made craftsman. Many were bought in the late 90's early 00's. Then a snap on guy started showing up at my shop and it was down hill from there. I have bought as many USA craftsman tools as I can afford. When all the USA craftsman is gone I will switch to SK for hardline stuff. I probably won't need it though unless I want to upgrade. Pliers have never been craftsman. Always has been channellock Klein and snap on. At this point for what I do all I have should last me forever. But there is always something new to buy.

 

[Conductor562]

You're missing my two choices:

-Masterforce at Menards. The hand tools are mostly still made by Apex and still made in the USA. The screwdrivers are made by Pratt-read.

-Blackhawk. The chrome sockets and wrenches are all USA made. The other tools are mostly Taiwanese.

Masterforce falls under "or other store brand"

Blackhawk falls under "or other industrial brand"

I really should've had a used tool option though.

 

[AV tinker er]

I have two concerns with this poll. First, I think many of us didn't switch to just one brand, but the polling feature doesn't allow multiple votes.

Something clicked when I saw the tools grouped together. Why are the professional brands separated for the industrial brands? I understand the difference by definition of the word, but I think either would work just as good in any given situation and the prices of the tool lines are similar. Just curious what others this about this.

 

[woody 73]

Hard to answer this poll.

I work this way if several GJ members are telling me hey xyz makes a good product, then I will buy it. Now that product might come from all over the World from Germany to China and back again.

Filling the Craftsman void, I still buy from them although not as much as in the past because I have just about everything that I need from years ago.

 

[SMKS]

Masterforce falls under "or other store brand"

Blackhawk falls under "or other industrial brand"

But neither name is listed, so just checking those boxes won't help members understand that Masterforce and Blackhawk are the brand names I'm recommending.

 

[Conductor562]

The idea of the poll was to determine what direction people tend to go. It's not implying that people only buy 1 brand. Maximum poll answers is 10, so grouping brands was nessecery.

 

[Farmall450]

You had 2 left.... ^^^

 

[rocco]

used premium brands like snap on, wiha, Knipex, Klein, etc..

 

[Aquaticbob]

Many good points being made in this thread. I'll chime in with my .02 since I was a craftsman tool buyer, but doubt I'll be getting too many things from them anymore in the future.

I've decided to do a little mix of pittsburgh pro tools (only going with pro, had enough bad experience with their "standard" line), and gearwrench. So far I've liked the 120xp ratchet, and have heard enough good things about them to try more of their products. I'm currently expanding my personal tool set (Turned 20 over the weekend, spend most of my money on my businesses/investments for future), so I'm not spending tons of money to be buying SO/MAC/Matco/Etc. Until gearwrench and pittsburgh pro fails me, I'll most likely stick with them for the time being, and buy some truck brand stuff later on since they do have some stuff that is top of the line, yet still way over priced.

 

[PugetDude]

This poll is like Sears-the choices offered arent't right for me.

 

[cheechi]

My answer would be 'all of the above'. Sears may not have been the best at anything but they do have (used to have more) a wide variety.

What I can't get or don't like from one or the other at HF, Wiha, GW, Kobalt, Northern, Dremel, Williams, or Bosch were all available under the Cman name. May not have been the best either but Craftsman as a brand encompasses more than nearly any brand you mentioned in the poll. And I know how it seems this forum is only mechanics but that's not really the case.

Some things are still USA and/or still good at Sears; punches, chisels, misc items for multimeters, abrasives, PPE, various blades, bits, etc. Sometimes they will have a better price, or better with the SYWR factored in but every time I say it's the last time or I have all the things I need from there something else comes up.

 

[Conductor562]

I'm surprised the industrial brands are getting the response that they are. I was simply curious as to which direction Craftsman buyers who felt disenfranchised went for their hardline tools. Most people have a brand they tend to look at first and this was an attempt to determine what that was.

I separated Industrial and Professional brands because they tend to cater and market to a different customer base.

It's obvious the fact that this isn't a complex, highly scientific, poll, pisses people off. Next time I'll just keep my mouth shut.

 

[DieselDent]

I rarely buy new tools unless I absolutely have to, my only requirement is its made in the USA. I have plenty of craftsman much of it older than me as well as plenty snap-on, SK, KD and MAC that I've picked up from yard sales and auctions. Can't remember the last time I was in the tool section of sears. I'm at the point where the tools I need are specialty stuff that was never available at sears/craftsman or if it was it wasn’t made in the US.